Universal credit live service to cease 31 December 2017

Following David Gauke's statement to the House of Commons on 23 November, the Director General of Universal Credit Neil Couling has written to Chief Executives of Local Authorities. The letter confirms that new claims for universal credit in live service areas will cease at the end of December 2017. He went on to say:

'The universal credit live service, which is being steadily replaced by the roll out of the full service, has a very limited shelf-life ending in December 2018. It would not represent value for money for taxpayers to invest in the system changes, required by these policy announcements, for such a short duration. Accordingly I have agreed with Ministers that in live service areas we will curtail the flow of new universal credit cases from the end of December. Whilst this will not affect any existing claimants already on universal credit it will mean that any new claims will, until universal credit full service is commenced locally, be made to legacy benefits and tax credits'